Hypodermic needle holder



Jan, 7; 1947, D. BORGEAT 2,413,858

HYPOIDERMIC NEEDL HOLDER Filed Jan. 29, 1944 2 Sheets- Sheet l Il M- 5;l6/

f /v Wfzzaif gaf" Inventor Attorneysy Jan., 7, 1947.' D. BoRGEA'rA2,2113858 HYPoDERMIc NEEDLE HOLDER Filed Jan. 29. 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Inventor Patented .an. 7, 1947 UNITEDv STATES PATENT OFFICE HY PODERMICNEEDLE HOLDER Denis Borgeat, Montreal, Quebec, Canada'I ApplicationJanuary 29, 1944, Serial No. 520,366

The present invention relates to a needle holder and, more particularly,a holder for hypodermic needles.

Hypodermic needles have always presented a problem to those who use themconstantly, because said needles must always be kept razorsharp tooperate satisfactorily. Consequently, the sharpened end of said needlesmust be protected carefully as, otherwise, the needles quickly becomedulled and of doubtful utility to the condermic needles is, therefore,an important one todoctors, dentists and other users thereof, Moreparticularly, the problem of carrying needles around, as in a bag, isespecially veXing since said needles cannot be kept loose and must be inaseptic condition and free of internal coagulated or foreign matter.

The present invention has been conceived to avoid the disadvantagesnoted above and, accordingly, the primary object of the inventionresides in the provision of means whereby hypodermic needles of alltypes can be eciently supported, and carried around, in a manner suchthat said needles are removably held with their points suspended inspace and in an antiseptic medium, said medium being free to circulatewithin the needles.

Another important object is the provision of means for holding, orstoring, hypodermic needles in a safe and simple manner, whereby saidneedles are instantly available for use and properly sorted as to sizeand function. v

A further object of the invention concerns a receptacle constituting themeans of the-character described, said receptacle being adapted to holdan antiseptic uid or sterilized in a sterilizer while holding thehypodermic needles in the manner described. Y

Still another object contemplates a receptacle of the type dened above,which receptacle can be safely carried around, ybe simple of use and ofrelatively inexpensive construction.

, A still further object is the provision of such a receptacle adapted,with very little changes, to the use of various needles such ashypodermic, ylong surgical needles, injection and body-fluid- 4 Claims.(Cl. 20G-43) withdrawing ones, as well as the smaller so-called dentalneedles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe description progresses.

As an example, and for purposes of illustration only, four possibleembodiments of the invention are shown in the annexed drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a needle receptacle according to theinvention, which receptacle is intended to be portable and hold thegeneral run of hypodermic needles generally required by a physician,

Figure 2 is a perspective View of another form ofthe invention, oflarger size, and intended to be used as a stationary unit for storing.long needles and for clinical and hospital use,

vFigure 3 is a vertical section through the portable receptacle ofFigure 1,

Figure l is a similar view showing, in partial section, the samecontainer with the cover removed, y

Figure 5 is a vertical section through the larger receptacle of Figure2,

Figure 6 is a transverse section through the receptacle of Figure 1,just above the needle holding deck,

Figure 7 is a similar view of the larger receptacle of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is an enlarged partial section taken vertically through theupper part of the stationary receptacle of Figure 2 and showing themanner of inserting, removing and suspending the needles,

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8, but showing the deck held inposition below the level of the antiseptic iiuid for needle-sterilizingpurposes,

Figure 10 is a plan view of a modified deck for holding dental needles,

Figure 11 is a vertical section through said deck showing the manner ofholding the dental needles,

Figure 12 is a modied form of the small receptacle embodying the curveddeck of the stationary receptacle of Figure 5, for holding needles ofvarying head heights, and Figure 13 is a fractional plan View of arubber gasket used in the portable receptacle for closing saidreceptacle while allowing circulation of an antiseptic fluid within theneedles themselves.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar reference charactersrepresent corresponding parts throughout, the letter A indicatesgenerally the main body of the portable receptacle of Figure 1, whichbody is' preferably made of transparent material for purposes of insidevisibility, said body being of cylindrical shape and having an enlargedoutwardly tapering bottom edge I effectively increasing the outsidediameter of the bottom l for purposes of stability. The body is threadedat I'l to receive a screw-cap I8, of plastic or other suitable material,said cap having a plurality of relatively large apertures I9 formedcircumferentially in the vertical plan thereof, immediately above thethreads. For permitting said screw-cap to effect an airtight closure ofthe body, a special rubber gasket is disposed on the inner upper surfaceof the cap and is lodged in a circumferential cavity or channel 2|, soas to remain firmly in place. As shown to advantage in Figure 13, thelower surface of the rubber gasket is provided with right angulardepressions or channels 22, spaced from each other to leave therebetweenprojecting blocks 23 the purpose of which will be eX- plained later on.Finally, the cap is completed by the addition of an upper and outercircular rib 24 adapted to strengthen said cap and to allow thelowermost aperture I9 to be free when said receptacle is lying on itsSide in a sterilizer, for instance.

As shown to advantage in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the holder illustratedtherein is adapted to hold relatively small needles of the type mostgenerally used by physicians for giving injections of serums and thelike; this holder is adapted to be carried around and is consequently ofsimplied construction, as compared to the stationary holder` illustratedin the other figures. The means for supporting the needles consistessentially of a deck 25 apertured as shown in Figure 6, to receive adozen, or so,*hypodermic needles, said apertures 26 having the generalappearance of those illustrated in Figure 8 and flared at 2'I to permiteasy insertion of the needles therein. This deck is adapted to besupported within the receptacle A by means to be presently described.

Said means comprise a vertical rod 3l) extending above and below thecenter of the deck and force-fitted therein, said rod being slidablewithin a guide tube 3| provided with a pair of diametrally opposed slots32 adapted to slidably receive a pin 33 inserted in the rod 30 at rightangles thereto. Consequently, the tube and rod are inseparably connectedbut adapted to have in relation to the other a certain telescopicmotion. A spring 35 is inserted over the rod 30 between the upper end ofthe tube 3l and the lower face of the deck. Obviously, thisV spring isadapted to support resiliently the deck 25 and to urge the same upwardlyalong with the rod 39. In order to facilitate manipulation of the deck,a head 36 is provided at the top of the rod to serve as a handle forremoving the deck from the receptacle or for lowering said deck therein,especially when a liquid is present in said receptacle and it is desiredto flush the needles therein.

As shown to advantage in Figure 6, it will be noted that thecircumferential edge of the deck is provided with a number ofsemi-circular depressions, or channels 3l, said channels being adaptedto allow circulation of the liquid, when used, to prevent said liquidfrom squirting up through the holes 26 whenever the deck is lowered toosuddenly. Also, said channels permit a freer circulation of the liquidunder and below the deck, so as to bathe the upper portion of theneedles when the receptacle is closed, as shown in Figures 3 and 12.Finally, to prevent side sway, or lateral slipping, of the guide tube 3|on the glass iioor of the receptacle, a circular rib 4E! is cast in thefloor of the receptacle, in the center of which the lower end of thetube 3l is adapted to rest.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that a number ofhypodermic needles can be conveniently carried within a relatively smallenclosure, the method of carrying insuring that the points of theneedles are always supported in space and free from contact withanything but an antiseptic liquid that may be placed in said receptacle.The needles may be conveniently assorted as to size and, for thatpurpose, the top of the deck may be provided with suitable indicationsas smalL medium and largej so 4as to facilitate the selection andreplacement of the needles. When the cap I8 is screwed-down tight, thegasket 20 making Contact with the upper edge of the body insures anair-tight and fluid-tight closure: therefore, the holder may be carriedaround without danger of leakage and the needles kept, at all times, inperfect antiseptic condition. Since it is sometimes more convenient tosterilize the needles in a sterilizer, the cap is provided with theapertures I9 for permitting access within the receptacle of the boilingfluid used for said sterilisation. It is not necessary to remove thecap, because by unscrewing said cap half a turn or so, the gasket 2Bwill be removed sufficiently from the upper edge of the body to allowaccess of the boiling liquid for sterilizing purposes. Conversely, aftersterilization, the holder may be allowed to drain and, when closed,remains in antiseptic condition.

As stated previously, the liquid in the receptacle has the dual functionot sterilizing the needles and also to circulate therein to preventclogging of the bores after said needles have been used: the channels 22provided in the gasket 20 are meant to allow this circulation within theneedles, when the cover or cap is closed, so that the upper part vof theneedles, although resting on the gasket, are never entirely closed sincethey rest on the blocks 23 and a portion at least oi the upper needlebore is always exposed to the action of the liquid in the receptacle toallow circulation therein.

A modication of the holder just described is shown in Figures 2 and 5,said last holder being intended principally for stationary purposes andforl hospitals and clinical uses. The principle of operation is the sameas that previously described, with the exception that thebody ofreceptacle B is higher to accommodate longer needles. Said body B alsohas a base 45, the tuibe holding rib 46 and the screw threads Alladjacent the upper edge thereof. The deck 48, however, is shapedsomewhat diierently than deck 25, the main difference being that theupper surface of said deck is convex, at 4S, the lower face of the deckcomprising a central reinforcing enlargement 5B. Furthermore, the deckd3 is not secured to the rod 5I; which rod corresponds to rod 3B alreadydescribed. Again, the rod 5I is square instead of being round, so thatthe deck 8 can be rotated by the simple expedient of rotating the rodfor needle selection purposes. Otherwise, the deck supporting means aresimilar to those of the smaller receptacle, and include the supportingspring 53, the guiding tube 54, said tube having the slot 55 and the pin56. Thus, the deck 48 is adapted to be resiliently supported on top ofthe spring 153 exactly as in the smaller model.

To preventl the rod from falling down within the deck andvtube 54, andthereby rendering its manipulation difficult, a second or auxiliaryspring 6|] is provided above the deck, over the rod and between thesurface 49 of the deck and a head El disposed at the outer upper end ofthe said rod. Consequently, this spring tends to lift the rod above thesurface of the deck, when the screw-cap is removed, so that manipulationof the deck is thereby facilitated.

For allowing circulation of a liquid past the deck when said liquid isused in the receptacle, the deck is provided with peripheral notches orchannels 63, said channels being needed especially when the deck islocked in lower position below the surface of said liquid. The lockingmeans include a right angular cavity 54 provided on the outercircumferential head of the deck and shown mo-re particularly in Figures5, 8 and 9. Said cavity is adapted to engage a projection 65 formedinternally on the inside wall of the body B and adapted to constitutewith the cavity 64 a so-called bayonetl joint: in other words, the deckmay be locked in position by engaging the vertical leg of the cavityover the projection B5 and turning slightly the deck in a horizontalplane a short distance until said projection enters the horizontalportion of the cavity 54. This locking of the deck is particularlyuseful when it is desired to keep the cap off but with the needles belowthe level of a sterilizing liquid, when said needles are not used and tokeep the same in aseptic condition.

Inasmuch as the surface 49 of the deck is convex, the cap 61 issimilarly curved internally to assume a concave form so that thedistance between the surface 49 and the smooth gasket G8 is the same atall points, since large size needles are generally of uniform dimensionas far as the head thereof is concerned. Again, another advantage of theconvex-concave arrangement is to prevent plugging the bore of theneedles, at the upper ends thereof, for liquid circulation, thisplugging being effectively avoided due to the fact that the top of theneedles is horizontal and the cap curved. Therefore, there always existsa space between the gasket 68 and one edge of the needle, wherein thesterilizing liquid may enter and circulate within the needles. Exceptfor the difference just pointed out, the cap 61 is similar to cap 25 inall particulars and includes the apertures 10, the lowermost screwthreads and the circumferential rib 1 I.

Another modification of the invention is shown in Figures 8 and 9wherein the only difference with the structure of Figure 5 resides inthe rod which, instead of being square, is round. All the other featuresremain the same and consequently carry the same reference characters.The rod 15 is also slidable in a central aperture 0f the deck d8, but inorder to lift the deck above the normal position provided by the spring53, a notch 16 is made on one side of the rod 15, which notch isdesigned to engage a corresponding projection 11 formed in the bore ofthe deck within which bore the rod 15 is slidable. Thus, it is possibleto manipulate the rod so that the notch 16 engages projection 11,thereby enabling lifting of the deck above the liquid level and evencompletely outside of the receptacle. Of course, this arrangement isintended to avoid handling the deck or the needles by the hand, toprevent contamination thereof, the needles being preferably removed fromthe deck by the simple expedient pf inserting the syringe 18 (shown indotted lines in' Figurev 8) directlyinto the upper bore of the needle.The'position of the rod, when engaged with the projection 11, is shownin Figure 9, wherein said rod is illustrated as being above its normalposition shown in Figure 8. For facilitating the movement alreadydescribed, 4a small hat knob 19 is provided at the upper end of the rodto constitute the head thereof.

As an extension of the idea making use of the curved deck, as embodiedin the clinical model just described, a substantially similar deck maybe used also in the portable model, as depicted in Figure l2, for thepurpose of accommodating needles having heads of different lengths.Thus, the longer head may be disposed along the peripheral edge of thedeck, and the shorter one centrally grouped around the rod 30. Then, theportable model may be rendered more useful, without departing from thefeatures of utility already described;

Finally, a last mod iiication of the invention is shown in Figures 10and 11, said modification being especially designed for holding, in aspaced position, the so-called dental needles having sharpened edges atboth ends thereof, the retaining means being constituted by a bulbousenlargement disposed somewhat centrally along the needle. As wellknown,.this type of needle is adapted to be used in a special type ofsyringe wherein a rubber stopped tube is used for dental anesthesia. Dueto the fact that said needle can be supported only by the bulbouscentre, a modied type of deck is necessary to properly hold the same,said deck being shown in the Figures l0 and 11 already mentioned.

The modified deck consists of a pair of independent parallel plates 85,disposed one above the other and provided with similar series of radialslots and transverse shorter slots 81. The outer peripheral end of theslot 86 is flared at 88 to facilitate the insertion of the needle, saidneedles being normally received by their bulbous centre within a chamberconstituted by the cooperating tapering enlargement 89 formed on theinner faces of the plates 85, at the outer end of each cross slot 81.

Thus, a, cavity is provided between the cooperating plates 85 in whichcavity the needles can be safely and conveniently kept. So as tofacilitateV the removal and insertion of needles, a spring 90 isdisposed between the said plates, tending to separate the same adistance sufficient so as to clear the lower face of the plate 85 fromthe bulbous enlargement. Again, so that said plates may always remain intheir proper registering position, the plates 85 are disposed over asquare shaft 9|, the lower plate 85 being force-fitted over said shaftand the upper plate 55 slidable thereon. Finally, to prevent the decksupporting spring 92 from urging the deck upwardly so that one point ofthe needles may contact the rubber gasket of the holder, a length oftubing 93 is loosely inserted over the upper end of shaft 9| to act as aspacer between the deck and the screw-cap, the length of said spacerbeing in all cases greater than the upper length of any needles to beinserted in the deck.

Obviously, the deck supporting means are the same as those alreadydescribed and more particularly in connection with Figure 3.Consequently, the shaft SI corresponds to rod 30, the spring 92 tospring 35 and, of course, there is a lower tubing to guide the bottomend of shaft 9| within the circular rib provided at the bottom of thecontainer.

From the foregoing description, it will be e'Vie dent that the presentinvention is a most useful advance of the art, designed to keephypodermic needles in suspended position so that the sharpened edgesthereof are at all timesfree of contact with solid material. Again, theparticular `construction enables the Sterilisation of the needles bymeans of boiling, if desired, or for carrying purposes, by means of anantiseptic iluid kept in the receptacle holding the needles and adaptedto freely circulate within the needles to keep the bores thereof free offoreign and coagulated material.

It must be understood that various changes as to size, shape andarrangement of parts may be resortedto without departing from the spiritof the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. y

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A holder for carrying and supporting hypodermic needles with theirpoints in space, comprising a receptacle adapted to contain a fluid, acap for closing said receptacle, a needle deck slidable vertically inthe receptacle, a vertical rod disposed centrally of the receptacle andpassing through the center of the deck, a guide tube at the lower end ofsaid rod, tube-centering means in the receptacle, a spring over the rodbetween the tube and deck for urging said deck upwardly, and means fortelescopically retaining together the tube and rod.

2, In a carrier for hypodermic needles including a receptacle and aselectively closable screw cap, needle-supporting means having fiaringapertures adapted to support hypodermic needles at an enlarged portionthereof, so that the points may be in free space, a central rodrextending above and below said supporting means, a guiding tube over thelower portion of the rod, a spring over the rod between said tube andsupporting means, and means on the rod for limiting the movement thereofinside the tube.

3. In a carrier for hypodermic needles, a tubular receptacle, a deckmovable pistonfashion in said receptacle, said deck havingneedle-receiving apertures for suspending said needles, a guiding roddisposed axially with respect to the` receptacle extending centrallythroughr the deck and adapted to be movable therewith, a tubular memberreceiving the lower portion of said rod, a spring between the deck andtubular member to urge said deck upwardly, and means whereby the rod andrtubular member are movably retained in telescopic relation.

4. As an article of manufacture, a sterilizable carrier and holder forhypodermic needles, cornprising a liquid-holding receptacle, cap meansfor selectively closing and opening said receptacle to the passage of aliquid, a deck in the receptacle, said deck having apertures adapted tosupport hypodermic needles by their heads so as to suspend the points inspace, a vertically movable rod freely projecting through the center ofthe dec-k for guiding the same in the receptacle, a spring on the rodand under the deck for urging the deck upwardly, means telescopicallyreceiving the lower end of the rod and retaining the rod and springtogether against disassembly, land means in the bottom of the receptaclefor centering the lower end of the telescopic means.

DENIS BORGEAT.

